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Yellowstone Magma Larger Than Imagined

A recent study conducted regarding the molten rock under the Yellowstone National Park uncovered an alarming revelation that the magma is significantly larger than their estimated area making conclusion that any future volcanic eruption may result to a catastrophic global episode.

In the city of Helena of the U.S. state of Montana, one can locate and revere upon the majestic site of their Yellowstone National Park. The hot molten rock below the park is unique in appearance and texture however, it was discovered by researchers that the molten rock is 2 and a half times larger than what they estimated previously. This only means that the Yellowstone National Park’s supervolcano has a great possibility to erupt wildly with enormous force. Researchers made an estimation that the eruption would possibly be 2,000 times that of the size of St. Helens Mount.

The scientist were able to locate and map the magma chamber beneath the Yellowstone National Park by measuring the seismic waves from earthquakes. Jamie Farrell, the lead author of the study from the University of Utah, states that the length of the Yellowstone caldera chamber was around 55 miles long and 18 miles wide. He added that It has depths ranging from 3 to 9 miles beneath the earth.

Mr. Farrell also mentioned that with this given figures, it only means that the volcanic material beneath the surface is just enough to match three of the biggest supervolcano’s ever recorded over the past 2.1 million years.

The first volcanic eruption if the Yellowstone National park was the largest of all the blast recorded in the area. It was 2,000 times the size of the eruption that occurred in the Mount St. Helen, Washington last 1980.

Other researchers agreed with the details and relevance of the study saying it is essential to understand the evolution of huge volcanos like the ones in Yellowstone.